Birth of the Hammerklavier

Johanna took Ludwig back to court after her son, Karl, ran away from Beethoven's home. She argued that her brother-in-law was disregarding her son’s best interests. At the end of all the legal wrangling and court hearings, however, Johanna lost all control of her son.

During the second custody battle, Beethoven was able to keep composing. He worked on his extremely complicated piano solo, the Hammerklavier. Its music is unrelenting, difficult-to-play and emotionally explosive.